Mount for pair of ski boots on single snow ski

ABSTRACT

For snow skiing with a single snow ski, a mount for a pair of ski boots including a base having post means for mounting the same on the upper surface of a ski, the base having a pair of spaced side-by-side sections extending longitudinally of the ski and each section having a pair of longitudinally spaced, inclined slots provided with pins therein. A pair of boot mounting members are shiftably mounted on respective sections of the base, each mounting member having a flat upper surface and a pair of spaced sides, the pins extending from the sides, through respective slots of the sections of the base. A link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the base is pivotally mounted at its ends on respective boot mounting members so that, as one mounting member moves in one direction, the other mounting member moves in the opposite direction, the distance of travel of the mounting members being limited by the lengths of the slots. The mount can be rigidly secured to the ski or can be releasably coupled to the ski with conventional boot bindings. This invention relates to improvements in the connection of ski boots to snow skis and, more particularly, to a mount for securing a pair of ski boots to a single snow ski to permit skiing without the benefit of a second ski.

United States Patent 11 1 [111 3,929,344 1 Dec. 30, 1975 MOUNT FOR PAIR OF SKI BOOTS 0N SINGLE SNOW SK! [76] Inventor: Joseph D. Ott, 3220 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, Calif. 9505] [22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 554,348

52 Us. (:1. zen/11.35 c; 280111.13 w $11 no. cu. .1 A636 5100 [58] Fieldotsearch ..2s0/11.13w, 11.131,

272157 B. 56 SS. 70

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,274,08l 211942 Mautin 280111.37 R 3,154,312 10/1964 Marchand 280/1 [.13 W 3,685,846 B11972 Schlnid 280111.13 W 3,802,714 4/1974 Fleegnrd........ 280111.13 W 3,854,738 l2l1974 Fish 280" 1.13 W 3,854,744 1211974 Salomon ZBOII [.35 K

Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Townsend and Townsend [57] ABSTRACT For snow skiing with a single snow ski, a mount for a pair of ski boots including a base having post means for mounting the same on the upper surface of a ski, the base having a pair of spaced side-by-side sections extending longitudinally of the ski and each section having a pair of longitudinally spaced, inclined slots provided with pins therein. A pair of boot mounting members are shiftably mounted on respective sections of the base, each mounting member having a' flat upper surface and a pair of spaced sides, the pins ex- .tending from the sides, through respective slots of the sections of the base. A link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the base is pivotally mounted at its ends on respective boot mounting members so that, as

one mounting member moves in one direction, the

other mounting member moves in the opposite direction, the distance of travel of the mounting members being limited by the lengths of the slots. The mount can be rigidly secured to the ski or can be releasably coupled to the ski with conventional boot bindings.

This invention relates to improvements in the connection of ski boots to snow skis and, more particularly, to s mount for securing a pair of ski boots to a single snow ski to pei'mit skiing without the benefit of a second ski.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,929,344

FIG. 4 {'0 FIG. 5

sq 2o 36 32 BACKGROUND or run lNvEN'noN MouN'r roe -thing more challenging to'the'm.

In water skiing, a major shift in the-sport has been'to master the art of skiingover the water on a single ski. This is because skiing on the water with two skis preaents less and less of a challenge, especially to skilled water skiers. The need for similar stmcture to'perrnit more advanced snow skiers to increase theirskills now exists and the present invention was conceived for this particular purpose, mainly to provide apparatus allowing a snow skier to ski on only one ski to thereby provide heightened enjoyment while increasing his'skills.

. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to apparatus for attachment to a single snow ski and provided with means thereon for releasably mounting a pair of ski boots in a manner to allow the ski boots to shift relative to each other and'to the ski to which the apparatus is attached. To this end, the apparatus includes a mount having a base provided with post means 'extending downwardly therefrom for attachment to the single ski. The base has two. side-by-side, generally parallel sections; t-lch section having a pair offront and rear lnclined slots which shiftably receive pins so that. when respective boot mounting members are coupled with respective pins, the boot mounting members can shift longitudinally of the base sections and carry bootseither forward or rearwardly depending upon'the direction of movement of the members. Bach mounting member has binding means on the flat upper surface thereof for releasably attaching a ski boot thereto. Also, a link interconnects the two mounting members andis pivotally coupled intermediate its ends to the base to assure that, when one member moves in one direction, the other member will move in the opposite direction. This is essentially to allow the skier using the apparatus to make turns from straight, forward travel.

The entire structure of the present invention can be made of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or the like. Also, certain parts can be of metal while other parts can be of plastic. Conventional ski bindings can be utilized to minimize the expense of producing and using the apparatus. It can be quickly assembled to a single ski and removed therefrom and can he carried to a ski 'slope and used at any time.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved mount for a single aki wherein the mount includes means for securing a pair'ofskl boots to the ski for limited shifting movement longitudinally of the ski so that a skier can move over the snow on a single ski and can make turns without the need for a second ski as is conventionally required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type described wherein the mount has a base for attachment to the single ski and a pair of skimountingm'embers shiftably mounted on side-by-side relationship on the base and interconnected'with each other by a link so that when a pair of ski boots are attached to the mounting members, the skier can move in a forward direction over snowy terrain or can make turns from straight. forward movement, all of which can occur without the need for a second ski.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ski'boot mount of the aforesaid character wherein the mount can be of any suitable material and can neither be permanently or releasably connected to a standard ski so as to render the same adaptable for wide variety of uses.

Further objects of this invention will become apparcut as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for an illustration of an embodiment of the invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the boot mount of the present invention, showing the way it is mounted on a single ski;

FIG. 2 is a crossFsectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I; i

FIG, 3 is a front elevational view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the way in which .the boot mount can be mounted on a single ski having standard bindings;

FIG. 5'is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and

, FIG. 6 ii a crosssectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. I.

The boot mount which is the subject of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral [0 and includes a base 12, a pair of boot mounting members 14 and 16, a pair of pins, 18 for shiftably mounting each of the boot members, respectively, on base 12, and a pair of posts 20 and 22 for coupling base 12 to a single ski 24 at the upper surface 26 thereof. FIG. 1 shows the way in which each of posts 20 and 22 are coupled by screws 28 to ski 24. These screws extend through flanges at the lower end of posts 20 and 22.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the way in which posts 20 and 22 are coupledto ski 24 when the same has conventional bindings on the upper surface 26 thereof, such bindings including a front element 30 and a rear element 32. To this end, posts 20 and 22 have forward and rearward projecting portions or flanges 34 and 36, respectively, for releasable connection to binding elements 30 and 32'. As shown in FIG. 4, 'projection 34 is secured by a machine screw 38 to the bottom face of post 20. Similarly, projection 36 can be secured by machine screw to the bottom face of post 22. Base 12 has a cross-section as shown in FIG. 5. To this end, base 12 has two inverted U-shaped, sideby- 'side sections 40 and '42 which have an integral web 44 therebetween at the lower portion thereof and extending the length thereof. Posts 20 and 22 are secured to web 44 in any suitable manner, such as by machine screws '46 (FIG. I) to web 44.

Each of the sections 40 and 42 has a flat upper surface 48 which slopes downwardly and rearwardly as rear post 22 is approached from forward post 20. Each of the sections 40 and 42 has a bight'Sll provided with a pair of inclined slots 52 and 54 therethrough, the slots being aligned with each other as shown in FIG. 1 with one of the slots being adjacent to and above post 20 and the other slot being adjacent to and above post 22.

3 These slots are. adaptcdto receive respective pins 18 so that the pins may move longitudinally of respective slots.

Each 18 has a roller 54 rotatably mounted thereon, each roller bcingof adiamet'e'rwhich is substantially equal to the width of the corresponding slot 52 but slightly less than the same to allow the roller to move in rolling engagement along the lower surface 56 defining the corresponding slot. Each slot 52 in section 40 is aligned with a corresponding slot in section 42. The slots are substantially inclined as shown in FIG. I so that the pins move along inclined paths in a manner to be described.

Boot mounting members 14 and 16 areprovided for sections 40 and 42 respectively. Each of the boot mounting members is transversely U-shaped and has a pair of sides 58 and 60 and a bight 62 integral with sides 58 and 60. The width of sides 58 and 60 increases in the manner shown in FIG. 1 as the rear end of mount is Pins [I extend into and through sides 58 and 60 of respective mounting members 14 as shown in H6. 5. This allows the mounting members to move longitudinally of respective sections 40 and 42 through limited distances defined by the lengths of respective slots 52 and 54.

Each of mounting members 14 and 16 has a flat upper surface 62 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Ski binding means of any suitable construction can be provided on surface 62 to connect aski boot thereto. For purposes of illustration, such binding means includes a front binding element 64 and a rear binding element 66, both of conventional Upper surface 62 is essentially parallel with ski 24.

Members 14 and 16 are piv'otally interconnected by a link 68 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a pin 70 rigid to and extending upwardly from web 44 of base 12. A first pin 62 eatends downwardly from side 60 of section 14 as shown in FIG. 3 and into a slot denoted by the numeral 14. One end of link 68 is pivotally mounted on pin 72. Similarly, a second pin 76 extends downwardly and into a slot 78 formed in side 60 of mounting member 16. Link 68 thereby pivotally interconnects members t lv and 16 and assures that, as member 14 moves in one direction, member 16 will move in the opposite direc tion. This is important when the skier using apparatus 10 is making a turn.

In use, mount it) is first placed on a single ski 24 either by a permanent connection of the type shown in FIG. I or by releasable connection of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The skier using mount 10 then positions hii ski boots on upper surface 62 of mounting members 14 and 16. The boots are then coupled to mount 10 using the ski binding elements 64 and 66. With both boots coupled to respective mounting members 14 and 16, the skier commences to move down a slope or over snowy terrain. During straight, forward movement, the skier positions the boots side-by-side with neither boot ahead of the other. When the boots are so positioned. link 68 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of ski 24 and pins 18 are approximately mid way between the ends of respective slots. The skier keeps his boots at these positions as long as continued straight, forward movement is desired.

When it is desired to move, for instance, to the left, the skier moves his left foot forwardly, thereby moving mounting member 16 forwardly along its respective section 42. Because members 14 and 16 are interconnected by link 68, forward movement of member 16 causes rearward movement of member 14 and the skier automatically leans his weight on his left foot and thereby on member 16. This the ski to turn to the left and to continue the turr'rso long as the left foot is forwardly of the right foot. To return the ski to straight and forward movement, force is exerted down wardly on. the left foot causing member 16 to move once again rearwardly. As this occurs, member 14 moves forwardly and the skier can determine. by feel when the feet are approximately sidcby-side once again, thereby assuring straight, forward movement of the ski. r

To make a right turn, the right foot isurgedforwardly and the left foot is automatically moved because ofthe connection between members 14 and 16 by link 68. Following the making of the right turn, the right foot is again moved manually and into side-byside relationship to the left foot for continued straightforward movement of the ski.

The inclination of slots 52 and S4 the movements of members 14 and 16. For instance, to make a lettha'nd turn, the skier could exert a downward force on the right foot, causing member 14 to move rearwardly to thereby in forward movement of member 16. To return from a left turn to straight, forward movement, force is exerted on member 16 downwardly so that rollers 54 corresponding to member 16 will move downwardly and rearwa'rrlly while weight on the right member 14 will be minimized to allow forward movement of the corresponding rollers upwardly in the corresponding slots.

The present invention therefore provides an improved structure .for providing enjoyment and a means to increase the skills of a mow skier who mastered the skills of skiing with two skis. it is also suitable for average-type skiers with a certain amount of practice.

That which is claimed is:

l. A mount for a pair of ski boots for a single ski comprising: a base having a pair of spaced, side-byeide sections; means on the base for mounting the seine on a ski with the sections extending longitudinally of the ski; a boot mounting member for each mtion, respectively, each mounting member having an upper, bootreceiving surface provided with binding means thereon so that a ski boot can be releasably thereto: means mounting each member, respectively, on the corresponding section for movement longitudinally thereof through a limited distance; and a link pivotally connected to the members and pivotally coupled to the base intermediate its ends to permit one of the members to move in one direction as the other member moves in the opposite direction relative to the base.

2. A mount as set forth in claim I, wherein said mounting means for each member comprises a pair of spaced pins, each section having a pair of spaced, aligned slots therethrough, the pins of each member extending through the corresponding slots.

3. A mount as set forth in claim 2, wherein the slots of each section are inclined.

4. A mount as set forth in claim 3, wherein each member has a pair of spaced sides, the widths of the sides increasing as the rear end of the member is ap proached, said pins extending into the sides at different elevations thereof.

5. A mount as set forth in claim I, wherein each member has a flat upper surface, said upper surface when the base is mounted thereon.

6. A mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting means for the base comprises a pair of spaced posts, and means on the lower ends of the posts for securing the same to the upper surface of the skis.

7. A mount as set forth in claim 6, wherein said securing means comprises a flange on each post, respectively, and connector means for permanently connecting the flanges of the posts to the skis.

8. A mount as set forth in claim 6, wherein the posts securing means comprises a pair of lateral flanges having a width sufficient to permit a standard ski binding to secure the posts to the ski.

9. A mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein each section has extending transversely therethrough a pair of spaced slots elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ski, said mounting means comprising a pin extending through each slot, respectively, each member having a pair of opposed sides, each pin being carried by the opposed sides of the corresponding member.

10. A mount as set forth in claim 9, wherein is provided a roller on each pin, respectively, the roller being disposed within the corresponding slot and movable longitudinally thereof.

11. A mount as set forth in claim 9, wherein the slots are inclined with respect to said boot receiving surface and are disposed in a common plane.

12. In combination: a snow ski having an upper surface; a base having a pair of spaced, side-by-side sections; means on the base for mounting the same on the upper surface of the ski with the sections extending longitudinally thereof; a boot mounting member for each section, respectively, each mounting member having an upper, boot-receiving surface provided with binding means thereon so that a ski boot can be releasably connected thereto; means mounting each member, respectively, on the corresponding section for movement longitudinally thereof through a limited distance; and a link pivotally connected to the members and pivotally coupled to the base intermediate its ends to permit one of the members to move in one direction as the other member moves in the opposite direction relative to the base.

ewe-us 

1. A mount for a pair of ski boots for a single ski comprising: a base having a pair of spaced, side-by-side sections; means on the base for mounting the same on a ski with the sections extending longitudinally of the ski; a boot mounting member for each section, respectively, each mounting member having an upper, boot-receiving surface provided with binding means thereon so that a ski boot can be releasably connected thereto; means mounting each member, respectively, on the corresponding section for movement longitudinally thereof through a limited distance; and a link pivotally connected to the members and pivotally coupled to the base intermediate its ends to permit one of the members to move in one direction as the other member moves in the opposite direction relative to the base.
 2. A mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting means for each member comprises a pair of spaced pins, each section having a pair of spaced, aligned slots therethrough, the pins of each member extending through the corresponding slots.
 3. A mount as set forth in claim 2, wherein the slots of each section are inclined.
 4. A mount as set forth in claim 3, wherein each member has a pair of spaced sides, the widths of the sides increasing as the rear end of the member is approached, said pins extending into the sides at different elevations thereof.
 5. A mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein each member has a flat upper surface, said upper surface being generally parallel to the upper surface of the ski when the base is mounted thereon.
 6. A mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting means for the base comprises a pair of spaced posts, and means on the lower ends of the posts for securing the same to the upper surface of the skis.
 7. A mount as set forth in claim 6, wherein said securing means comprises a flange on each post, respectively, and connector means for permanently connecting the flanges of the posts to the skis.
 8. A mount as set forth in claim 6, wherein the posts securing means comprises a pair of lateral flanges having a width sufficient to permit a standard ski binding to secure the posts to the ski.
 9. A mount as set forth in claim 1, wherein each section has extending transversely therethrough a pair of spaced slots elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ski, said mounting means comprising a pin extending through each slot, respectively, each member having a pair of opposed sides, each pin being carried by the opposed sides of the corresponding member.
 10. A mount as set forth in claim 9, wherein is provided a roller on each pin, respectively, the roller being disposed within the corresponding slot and movable longitudinally thereof.
 11. A mount as set forth in claim 9, wherein the slots are inclined with respect to said boot receiving surface and are disposed in a common plane.
 12. In combination: a snow ski having an upper surface; a base having a pair of spaced, side-by-side sections; means on the base for mounting the same on the upper surface of the ski with the sections extending longitudinally thereof; a boot mounting member for each section, respectively, each mounting member having an upper, boot-receiving surface provided with binding means thereon so that a ski boot can be releasably connected thereto; means mounting each member, respectively, on the corresponding section for movement longitudinally thereof through a limited distance; and a link pivotally connected to the members and pivotally coupled to the base intermediate its ends to permit one of the members to move in one direction as the other member moves in the opposite direction relative to the base. 